Higher Education Our new Big Sister Mouse learning center offers a new option for high school graduates: Education based on reading, discussion, writing, and hands-on activities. Download our PDF to learn more: Big Sister Mouse program

Every donation helps

In the long run, our vision is that books will be an important part of Lao culture, parents will have enough income to buy books for their children, and a company like Big Brother Mouse can be self-sustaining. Right now, when the median annual income in Laos is about $1000 U.S. per year, we cannot make books widely available without help. Where they can afford it, villages pay a part of the cost of their reading program and we use donations for the balance. For the poorest villages, we currently use donations for the full cost.

In most cases, the simplest and best way to donate is through the Laos Literacy Project, a non-profit, tax-exempt 501-c-3 organization in the United States which sends 100% of your donation directly to Big Brother Mouse. Click this button to donate, using PayPal or a major credit card, through the secure PayPal site. If you would prefer to donate directly, with a bank transfer, please read further.

From Australia, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland: You can contribute through an affiliate with a tax-deductible status in these countries; for details click the country: Australia, United Kingdom,Switzerland.

$2900 U.S. provides a scholarship, including room and board, for a college-age student.

At our new Big Sister Mouse learning center, we're offering post-high-school education of a different sort: Not memorizing facts from a teacher or textbook, but hands-on activities; thinking through ideas through reading, discussion, and writing; and taking on projects, such as devising and testing out ways to build interest in reading. A one-year scholarship supports a student (usually, but not limited to, recent high school graduates) through this program. (If interested, you can learn more from our 6-page PDF about the Big Sister Mouse program.)

$600-$1000 U.S. will start a daily reading program in an entire school.

We'll go to a rural village and hold a book part at the school. We'll talk about books, read aloud, play games, and give 50 to 300 children a free book of their choice, otten the first book they've ever owned. Then we'll leave another 80-100 books with every classroom so students can read every day. On average, we leave 500 to 900 books at every school. We'll send you a picture and report afterwards, and we'll post the pictures and report in our Photo Album, with a thank-you to the sponsor.
And then, we'll make two follow-up visits, to be sure it's going well. Daily reading is a new concept here, and our evaluations in 2013-15 showed that these visits are necessary to be sure the program doesn't get pushed aside. See what happens at a book party!

$450 U.S. will sponsor a book party and get the program started.

The book party gets kids excited about the new reading program. We'll send you a picture and report afterwards, and we'll post the pictures and report in our Photo Album, with a thank-you to the sponsor. See what happens at a book party!

(We will also do follow-up visits, as above, we'll use other funds for that. When schools co-pay, often we pool their copayment with a donation, to provide the full package.)

$150 U.S. does all that for one classroom.

We'll combine your donations with others, and with copayment from the village, to get books into one more school. Every student gets a book, and every classroom begins a daily reading program. Afterward we'll send you a report and photos, and we'll post it in our Photo Album, with all donors acknowledged.

$1,000-$3,500 U.S. will sponsor a new book.

Each new book costs about $2,000-$6,000 U.S., but we can pay some of that, and other overhead, from sales. A sponsorship of just $1,000-$3,500 U.S. is all that's needed to bring a new book into Laos. Books that need sponsors.

How to donate

By major credit card or PayPal: You may use the button at the top of the page to donate to the Laos Literacy Project, a non-profit, tax-exempt (501-c-3) organization in the USA. For American taxpayers, these contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

The Laos Literacy Project was created to provide support for Big Brother Mouse and our work in Laos. It is volunteer-staffed. The small overhead costs of the organization are paid by the founders; all of your donation, except for the standard fee taken by credit card companies, will go to Big Brother Mouse in Laos.

By check (US dollars): Donations can also be made by check to the Laos Literacy Project. For American taxpayers, they are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

By bank transfer: Donations can be made by bank transfer directly to Big Brother Mouse in Laos. Because of the bank fees involved (which vary by bank and by country), this is usually best only if you are donating more than $1,200, and you will not benefit from U.S. or Australian tax deductions. Please see notes below about "Reporting."

Reporting

We like to know who's helping us get books to kids in Laos! If you use the PayPal DONATE button above, we'll know. PayPal provides your name and email address. We will record your donation, in your name.

If you donate in any other way (a transfer to our bank; a check mailed to Laos Literacy Project; or through the Global Development Fund), and would like us to record the donation in your name, please send us an email after you make the donation, giving the amount, date, your name, and how the donation was made (for example, "by credit card to Global Development Group"). This is particularly necessary if you are sponsoring a book (we want to thank you, unless you prefer to remain anonymous), or if you're sponsoring a book party and would like to get a report about it, or would like to attend. Thank you!